Rain turned out to be the big winner on Tuesday as Austin Gaugert tries to stay dry early in his round. (Valpo Sports Media Relations)

Rain Forces Cancellation of Final Round in Bowling Green

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Most players played seven or eight holes on Tuesday morning,
but constant rain eventually won, making Stone Ridge Golf Club unplayable by
approximately 11:30 a.m. EDT and thus forcing the cancellation of the final
round of the John Piper Intercollegiate held in Bowling Green, Ohio.

None of the play that did occur will count from Tuesday, and
thus the results following Monday’s second round became the final official
scores.

“The course just became so wet and there was standing water
everywhere,” head coach Mike Higdon
said. “Balls got lost in the fairway
after they plugged.”

The steady rain began around 7 p.m. EDT on Monday night and
continued throughout the night and into the morning.

Valparaiso
finished the tournament in eighth place at 601 (302-299), just six strokes out
of a top-three finish. The Crusaders
finished ahead of three other Horizon League schools (Cleveland
State, Youngstown
State, and Butler),
and trailed Wright
State by just a
stroke. Host Bowling Green was crowned the tournament
champion at 580 (291-289).

Individually, the Falcons’ Drew Preston won the tournament
at five-under par 139 (70-69) on the 7,064-yard layout. Brad
Winters (Elgin, Ill./Saint Edward H.S.) finished in a tie
for 17th place as Valpo’s low finisher, carding rounds of 71 and 78 for a 149 total.

Valparaiso will return to the
links on Saturday afternoon facing Green Bay and
Chicago State
in a triangular match held at Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond, Ind.
beginning at noon.